Are Your Home’s HVAC Systems in Sync for Top Efficiency?

If you want to improve your home’s energy efficiency, it’s important to understand that its various systems can only perform efficiently if they’re in sync. By addressing the following areas, you’ll help your home’s HVAC systems work in tandem, and enjoy greater energy savings.

Air Leaks

An adequate exchange of indoor and outdoor air is essential for a healthy living environment, but excessive air leaks in your home’s shell can lower the efficiency of your home’s HVAC systems. Use caulk, sealant and weatherstripping to seal gaps around doors and windows, and anywhere wires, vents and plumbing pipes extrude.

HVAC Ductwork

Ductwork leaks can allow a significant amount of heated or cooled air to escape, which negatively impacts your home’s energy efficiency. Fix any disconnected ducts, ensure that loose joints are sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape, and insulate all accessible ductwork.

Insulation

Energy losses through your attic due to inadequate insulation can increase your heating and cooling costs. Here in Monmouth County, you should have a minimum of R-38 in attic insulation to maximize your comfort and savings.

HVAC Equipment

When your home’s HVAC equipment is properly maintained, it operates more efficiently. Routine maintenance will also help avert breakdowns and extend the life of your system components. Schedule an annual heating system tune-up in the fall, and an A/C checkup each spring.

Windows

Shading your windows from the sun can increase your home’s energy efficiency. Plant trees and shrubs to provide exterior shade, and add light-blocking film or window coverings on the interior. When replacing your windows, opt for low-E double panes, and have them professionally installed.

Appliances and Lighting

Lower your energy consumption by upgrading to Energy Star-rated appliances, and switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Older appliances and incandescent bulbs both produce heat during normal use, so replacing them will also reduce the cooling load on your home’s HVAC systems.

To learn more about the benefits of keeping your home’s HVAC systems in sync, contact Aggressive Mechanical Contractors, Inc. We’ve served the home comfort needs of Monmouth County and the surrounding areas since 1948.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Monmouth County, New Jersey and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.